National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1887-06-29
FACING THE CHARGES.
REV. MR.. T0DD's TRIAL BEGUN BEFORE
THE PRESBYTERY.
What the CoIored Man Saw Ia thu
Bushes-An Important Laprobe aud
sorreI Borse-The Woman Not Recog.
nizea and Unknown.

sidered was the charge made against the
Rev. +. NJ. Todd by some Of his coEgrega-
tion. Tho Preebytery was called to order
by the moderator, Rev. DR.. French. Prayer
was offered by DR.. French, who petitioued
for wisdom In the deliberations OF the body
and for strict justice in the conclusions at
which they might arrive.
The roll was then called by DR.. Bitten
ger and twenty-soven members were found
to be present, Rev. Drs. Ptzer and Bul-
lock were invited to sit as corresponding
members.
The moderator read letter from Mr.. j.
X. Hornbaker, requesting that DR.. Fuller
ton or DR.. Childs take charge OF the case
for the prosecution.
DIR. Cbilds, as second member OF the ia
dlcial committee, reported on the papers,
aflidavts, maps, and diagrams presented In
the case.
DR.. Chids moved that Rev. Mr.. Nourse
take charge OF the case for the complain
ants.
Mr.. Nourse requested that Mr.. Horn
baker be asked whether he INT. Nourse)
had ever given him cause to believe that he
would act as counsel for the prosecution.
This caused much discussion, In which
several members took part. The law on
the subject OF appointing
COUNSEL FOR THE PROSECUTION
was searched for, but there was only pre-
cedent, no law.
1t being moved that DR.. Childs act as
counsel for the compliments, DR.. Sunder-
land objected, on the ground that Mr..
Nourse had acted as such In the past; II
any other was appointed the defense would
make II ground for appeal.
Mr.. Nourse defended himself from what
be termed "the imputatlons of DR.. Suuder-
land" and explained his action on Satur-
day, when he retained the original papers
In the case until the session Of the Presby-
terry was almost over. The motion to ap-
point Mr.. Nourse was lost.
DR.. Childs nominated Mr.. Lyman, but
that was voted down.
Rev. Mr.. Fleming said that the Prcsbytery
was "going to do something wrong. The
accuser has made serious charges against a
brother, a member Of this body, and now
asks this Presbytcry TO assist him 10 sus-
tanning his charges. The accuser should
make good his own cause"
Mr.. Edwards disputed these grounds,
claiming that the Presbytery was compelled
to take up the charges.
Rev. Mr.. Mcllyaine said that there was
counsel for the defense-a celebrated
ecclesiastical lawyer-while on the other
side were men entirely ignorant OF the rules
governing such proceedings.
Finally DIR. Childs was appointed, much,
however, against his will.
DR.. Sunderland, counsel for the defense,
took exception on the ground that there
was no law for any such proceeding
The moderator then, according to the
rules, charged the members of the Presby-
terry to attend faithfully aud with prayerfnl
attention to the case about to be tried be
fore them,
The clerk then read the
CHARGES AGAINST MR.. TODD,
as follows:
charge the Rev. Francis NJ. Todd with
2. Conduct nnbecoming Christian aud a
Specifications On the 9th day of May, 1887,
between tho hours of and 10 O'Clock a. IN q,
Robert Turner in secluded place, in a fores.
or wood near the division lines between the
Curry and the Hall farms, about two miles
| from Nokesville, Va and about 29o yards from
the public road, lying on lap robe or blanket
| with We man unknown TO said Turner, who
Withdrew herself when Tnrnerp cared.
II. II. WAsHl: .oN, Elder.
witnesses. John Siaught, Robert Turner,
| John J.. Ca'icc, Mr.. Maloncy, q. Ii. Snow,
| Littel Slack, Mrs Sarah Slack.
"What is your plea, Mr.. Todd9" asked
the moderator.
In firm, sharp tone Mr.. Todd replied:
III PLEAD NOT GUILTY,n
The first witness for the prosecution,
Robert Turner, was called and sworn. He
| was dark colored mar, little above the
medium height, not very prepossessing, but
a fair specimen Of the intelligent average
| man OF his race. A broad expanse OF white
powerful chest Dark coat and vest aud
light striped pants completed his costume.
| He Dervously fingered black SLOUGH hat at
| the commencement, but gradually recov-
| cred his equanimity, and talked In very
straightforward manner.
At tbis point all other witnesses were
| excluded.
DR.. Childs then commenced the exam
nation OF Turner.
| My name Is Robert Henry Turner.
| live in Prince William county, Va, on the
| Warrenton road, about mile from the
| Nokesville Church. l am here to-day to
tell the truth, and want you to understand
it." He was requested to continue his story
without adding any foot notes. 81 was
working In the field near Mr.. Curry's house
on May "a. With me were Pat Curry, Wan
DER Douglas Brent Llttel Slack, and silas
Jacobs. left Mr.. Curry's about 0 o'clock
that morning. went west on cross road.
| went about 200 yards and came to the cor
ner OF Maloney's corn field, and then took
notion to 60 down the line between the
two farms, and then came to the farm
| live on. was searching out line for a
| fence for sixty acres had rented to Mr..
| Curry for sheep pasture. ! was peeping
around In the brush, when l saw horse
tied In the brush, and l saw there
| A GENTLEMAN LYING DOWN ON ROBE
and a lady scuiiling up; she kept her back
| to me and pulled her hat down; only saw
Der hand to tell whether she was white OF
black. Then, II ever told the truth, |
paid, "Good morn, Mr.. Todd" and he said,
"Wbat are you looking forPn sail, "a
fence llne,' and went right on. In little
while my curiosity began to work and re-
turned through the pines to a place some
thirty yards from where the parties were,
and even went down on my belly and
| crawled through some OF the brush; then
says ], "You better get out, for II that man
sees you he'll shoot your i could hear
the voices, but couldn't tell what they said.
| then went home, and being somewhat
ticKled about the affair tod my wife, and
some time after told Others.
MIR. ii. Washington, the prosecutor, ar
rived at this point and IT, moderator, ac-
cording to the law, charged him that 10
case his charges were not sustained he
would be subject TO discipline OF the church
as a slanderer.
Mr., Washington, by consent OF the iPres.
| bytery, stated his position In the affair; he
knew nothing OF the case or its merits; he
| took this action because he thought 1t
| HIS DUTY AS AN ELDER
| Of the church.
DR.. Sunderland said "We have neve,
| questioned The position. the manhood, OF
the Christianity II Mr.. Washington
The testimony OF Turner was continued.
| "By the whistles OF the passing trains
knew about what the time was, both when
started from the field aud when | arrived
at home. Mr.. Carlco arrived at my house
about one hour after | got home. told
him OF the occurrence. He proposed t.
me to go down aud catch them; we went
down, but they had gone. We tracked the
horse for about 100 yards; the tracks came
| IN and went out on the same road.
/ III have known Mr. Todd for a nranI